Turbine farmers in appeal for meeting

Turbine farmers in appeal for meeting

5 December 2012

FARMERS frustrated by planning delays to wind turbine proposals for their land are calling for a meeting with senior management at Rathkeltair House.

Down District Farmers for Renewable Energy say they need to urgently discuss with the local planners why there are lengthy delays for their planning applications compared to the rest of Northern Ireland.

Their comments follow a recent meeting with Environment Minister Alex Attwood and MP Margaret Ritchie on the issue, which they describe as “positive”.

Last week the farmers’ group also warned they may oppose plans for the major wind offshore farm to be located off the County Down coast — concerned the companies behind the project are being given preferential treatment.

Edward Carson, from Tyrella, said they wanted the Downpatrick planning office to reflect what was happening across Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

“There is a fear that the planning system favours developers and multinational companies,” he said. “These people can afford barristers to challenge the planners, and normally get a ‘free run’ though the planning system compared to ourselves.

“The new offshore wind farm proposal for our area is a case in point, does anyone believe that they will be denied planning or not be able to get a grid confection?”

Alan Montgomery, of Killough, said: “The Minister noted that planning applications for wind turbines across Northern Ireland generally take four to six months to process, but the average for our applications in the Downpatrick planning office is closer to three years.

“The Minister pointed out the 83 per cent success rate for planning application success for renewable energy across Northern Ireland and was surprised to hear that the statistics for Down are so different.

“For instance in 2010 only 18 per cent of applications had been passed and few of these were for farmers — they were mostly for developers. Eighty-two per cent are still either refused or stuck in the planning process.”

Local environmentalist and councillor, Cadogan Enright, said: “Farmers in the Lecale and Strangford areas are particularly aggrieved, given the traditional importance of wind energy in East Down.

“Historical maps of our area show hundreds of windmills in this area, making Down District the only area in Ireland outside of Wexford with a major tradition in wind energy. Old windmill sites area scattered all over our district.”